Vintage Coats and Post Cards

I may be MIA for a few days depending on how the hurricane effects us.  We are bracing for a few days without power.  Hopefully, I'll get some reading time in:)

I bought these vintage fashion postcards on ebay.  It looks like they are fall weather fashions.  There are some great coats.  Don't you wish you could buy coats like these in the shops today?  They are all so cheaply made.  Why does clothing have to only be made to last one season?  One thing I really like about vintage fashion is that a lot of it was "Made In The USA".   It's so nice to see this on clothing since we so rarely see it nowadays.  I hope there can be a trend towards bringing more clothing manufacturing back.  I'd much rather pay a premium for something "Made In The USA".  I wonder if Kohls even has anything that is "Made In The USA" in clothing.

 I have no idea how I found these post cards among all the things that pass through ebay.  I thought they were really interesting.  I think it is really interesting that I found them as a set.  If you liked a particular outfit, you mailed back the postcard and viola the outfit would be mailed to you. There are no dates on these cards but I'm guessing this is mid to late 40's.   So which outfit would you like? Anyone else have postcards from department stores advertising fashion?  Montgomery Ward's has some really nice fashion postcards.

Example of a back on one of the post cards:

And, speaking of fabulous coats I would be remiss if I didn't mention this one.  Wow!!  What a show stopper!!  I don't really have anything with a leopard print in my wardrobe but I'd certainly make an exception for this one.     This is a custom made coat from the 40's.  Look at the condition!  It's on etsy through MillStreetVintage for $825.  Every time I look at it ...I just think how fabulous it is!  It actually looks like it belongs in a museum next to a Dior coat.   I don't think you could walk down the street without double takes.  Start saving up ladies!   You know what someone just bought this coat as I was finishing up this blog entry.  I don't think it was up for more than a couple of hours.  Congratulations to the luck lady!  Lovely, lovely, lovely!

Also, another sale to mention, FabGabs on Etsy is having a 50% clearance on some items. 

Vintage Christmas Greetings

I realize we still have November to get through but I've been spending some time looking at vintage Christmas cards.  Some of them are so lovely that it got me thinking that it might be a nice idea to have a vintage Christmas card swap.   While pursing Christmas cards,  I noticed many Thanksgiving greetings.  I had no idea how big Thanksgiving greeting cards used to be.  Very interesting!

If anyone is interested in swapping vintage Christmas greetings around the beginning of December, please drop me an email or comment below.   I figure if I plant the seed early it may give some of you some time to think about it and look for some vintage greeting cards.   Of course these vintage cards, may already have postmarks and greetings from a previous owner but that makes it all the more fun!

I just love Christmas time and the festiveness it brings.

Vintage Christmas Post Card circa 20's. Post Card from France.

Check out this card.  When I saw the name Mrs. Van, I thought it was a perfect greeting card as Van is in my last name.  This card is from 1930.  So, I am also a Mrs. Van <smile>

Lilli Ann 1949

 The weather is overcast and raining today.  It gave me a chance to try out my vintage umbrella.  The gaberdine coat is Lilli Ann from 1949.  In 1949, the coat price was  $89, which would make it $833 in today's dollars.  I picked this coat up on ebay $155 and it's a perfect fall weather coat.   The coat appears to be barely worn.  Check out below for the matching ad.  Shoes, gloves, umbrella, and bracelet also vintage.

Here is the ad that matches this coat:

This is a fabulous navy polka dot, 40's dress that has polka dot strips on the side.  My camera died shortly after taking this picture and now sits in the repair shop so I don't have any up close shots to share but it also has a great button up detail to the front.

Window Shopping

One thing I am fascinated by is looking at the window displays and inside department stores from the 50's and before.   I haven't been able to see many department stores from the interior from a vintage perspective.  If anyone knows a website or photographs to look at, please let me know.


I found the below images from the Library of Congress:

Bergdorf window displays 1938.  It's not too often we can take a sneak peak back and look at window displays.  Fascinating.  I wish we could even have a closer sneak peak just as these ladies are having:)

You wonder what some of these women are thinking as they are looking at the displays.

Meeting of Chrysler Girls  Club at Saks store in Detroit Michigan 1942.  Would you like to have your hand in that stash of bags?  It is funny how times change. It's amazing how clean and fresh the streets appear in this images.  I don't really think I'd like to be walking around most streets in Detroit nowadays.  I grew up in a suburb of Detroit and understand how there is so much character to Detroit.  There are some fantastic buildings and homes in the city that now sit as shells.

How about a  look into the Lilly Dache residence 1949?

I think I'd quite like a hat stand like this one!